got hit by car

Chris Brandt

2002-07-24

I wanted to thank all of you that sent me well wishes and advice on who to

contact. The majority of the recommendations were for Velolaw.com, Mark

Ginsberg, and Ray Thomas. I spoke with Ray Thomas' firm and they provided me

with some very helpful guidance. If you haven't visited their website, I

highly recommend it ( www.stc-law.com ). They have posted numerous

articles regarding cycling and the law and it is good general information

for all cyclists to read.



I have been to the hospital and have no broken bones and, as far as I know,

no other significant problems. The road rash is getting better already too.

It is amazing to me that I came out with such minimal damage as I did. If

you have not already done so, I recommend that you visit the OBRA site where

Mike Murray has provided some very helpful directions for wound care. Yet

another great thing about OBRA!



Since many have asked... yes, I have filed a police report, a DMV accident

report, and have an insurance claim filed against the responsible party. I

am attempting to follow up on the incident to make sure that the young

drivers learn from this experience and are no longer out there risking other

cyclists lives.



Take care,

Chris



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td-@CH2M.com

2002-07-23

Chris,



Sorry to hear about your accident. Don't know if this helps, but there

was a good article about what to do in case of an accident in the Oregon

Cycling Newspaper. I think it was in the July edition. It may give you

a lead on who to talk to and what to do.



Regards



Todd



-----Original Message-----

From: Chris Brandt [mailto:chris_br-@hotmail.com]

Sent: July 23, 2002 1:44 AM

To: ob-@topica.com

Subject: [OBRA Chat] got hit by car





Hey folks. I remember seeing someone on the obra group a while back

discussing legal issues with motorists/cyclists. I think it was back

last

year when someone in a company van pulled a gun on somebody. That didn't



happen to me, but I did get sideswiped pretty good by a car who decided

to

ignore my existence tonight on Sauvie Island at about 7:30. I'm fine,

limbs

are in working order and I didn't hit my head. Simply a more than ample

serving of road rash on my butt (including that lovely space between the



cheeks) and other areas. I got to participate in an exciting high speed

stunt scene, complete with me flying across the back of the car, and

squeeling rubber sound effects. I was hoping to discuss my legal rights,



responsibilities, and what-have-you's since I failed to obtain all the

information I really should have at the accident scene while in a dazed

state of shock. I have the license plate. I filed an accident report

with

the police tonight later, and they didn't seem to care that much. I was

told

that the information I provided to the officer will just end up in his

notepad, in the bottom of his locker, along with all the old ones. Hmmm.

Ok.



Be careful out there and keep your ears peeled for rapidly approaching

cars

from behind. I feel very fortunate to have come out alive. A fraction of

a

second sooner and it would definitely have been a different story. I was



riding about 20 mph alone and hugging the fog line. The guy hit me while



traveling about 40.



The coolest thing about it all was, afterwards, a local couple that live



right there (and happen to be avid cyclists) helped me out, let me clean

up

in their bathroom, lent me some shorts, and then we watched the Tour on

OLN!

I had missed yesterday's stage so it worked out perfect. They even gave

me a

ride home. See, not all residents on Sauvie hate cyclists! Steven and

Michelle Burger were the nice folks who earned some seriously good

karma.



Take care, and please share the name of the expert in the house. Thanks.



-Chris



____________________________

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chris Brandt

home: (503) 232-3653







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Karen Johanson

2002-07-23

At 1:44 AM -0700 7/23/02, Chris Brandt wrote:

 Hey folks. I remember seeing someone on the obra group a while back

discussing legal issues with motorists/cyclists. I think it was back

last year when someone in a company van pulled a gun on somebody.

That didn't happen to me, but I did get sideswiped pretty good by a

car who decided to ignore my existence tonight on Sauvie Island at

about 7:30. I'm fine, limbs are in working order and I didn't hit my

head. Simply a more than ample serving of road rash on my butt

(including that lovely space between the cheeks) and other areas. I

got to participate in an exciting high speed stunt scene, complete

with me flying across the back of the car, and squeeling rubber

sound effects. I was hoping to discuss my legal rights,

responsibilities, and what-have-you's since I failed to obtain all

the information I really should have at the accident scene while in

a dazed state of shock. I have the license plate. I filed an

accident report with the police tonight later, and they didn't seem

to care that much. I was told that the information I provided to the

officer will just end up in his notepad, in the bottom of his

locker, along with all the old ones. Hmmm. Ok.



Get well ASAP, Chris!



So was this a hit and run? Definitely file criminal charges as well

as civil if it is. Go back to the police and demand assistance.

Portland claims it's a bike-friendly town. Tell them to prove it.



Here are a couple of attorney numbers from Oregon Cycling:



Velolaw.com

866-VELOLAW or 503-284-1241



Swanson, Thomas & Coon

503-228-5222



--

___________________________________________________________________________

Karen Johanson Photography

Online portfolio at http://users.snowaccess.com/snowkat

971.544.1661

___________________________________________________________________________

Do one thing every day that scares you.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

___________________________________________________________________________If

everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.

- Mario Andretti

___________________________________________________________________________

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.

- Anais Nin



Chris Brandt

2002-07-23

Hey folks. I remember seeing someone on the obra group a while back

discussing legal issues with motorists/cyclists. I think it was back last

year when someone in a company van pulled a gun on somebody. That didn't

happen to me, but I did get sideswiped pretty good by a car who decided to

ignore my existence tonight on Sauvie Island at about 7:30. I'm fine, limbs

are in working order and I didn't hit my head. Simply a more than ample

serving of road rash on my butt (including that lovely space between the

cheeks) and other areas. I got to participate in an exciting high speed

stunt scene, complete with me flying across the back of the car, and

squeeling rubber sound effects. I was hoping to discuss my legal rights,

responsibilities, and what-have-you's since I failed to obtain all the

information I really should have at the accident scene while in a dazed

state of shock. I have the license plate. I filed an accident report with

the police tonight later, and they didn't seem to care that much. I was told

that the information I provided to the officer will just end up in his

notepad, in the bottom of his locker, along with all the old ones. Hmmm. Ok.



Be careful out there and keep your ears peeled for rapidly approaching cars

from behind. I feel very fortunate to have come out alive. A fraction of a

second sooner and it would definitely have been a different story. I was

riding about 20 mph alone and hugging the fog line. The guy hit me while

traveling about 40.



The coolest thing about it all was, afterwards, a local couple that live

right there (and happen to be avid cyclists) helped me out, let me clean up

in their bathroom, lent me some shorts, and then we watched the Tour on OLN!

I had missed yesterday's stage so it worked out perfect. They even gave me a

ride home. See, not all residents on Sauvie hate cyclists! Steven and

Michelle Burger were the nice folks who earned some seriously good karma.



Take care, and please share the name of the expert in the house. Thanks.



-Chris



____________________________

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Chris Brandt

home: (503) 232-3653







_________________________________________________________________

MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:

http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx